Introduction
Intelligence is one of the areas of psychology that have been greatly discussed but the exact meaning of intelligence has not been agreed upon. Different individuals have different definitions and this has led to the development of different intelligence theories. To some psychologists, intelligence is determined by several factors while to some others it is a single, general ability. These theories can be used in explaining the different stands taken by individuals who relate with their ethnic groups, explain the process of development of an individual, explain why different individuals have different levels of intelligence, etc. This paper will seek to analyze the multiple intelligence theory by Howard Gardener and the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence by Robert Sternberg. Different articles will be used in analyzing the intelligence theories.
Howard Gardener- Multiple Intelligence Theory
It is accepted that different individuals have different levels of intelligence but the exact way to measure these levels of intelligence is different. Again different cultures value different skills differently. The way that an individual carries out the activities in the community describes his or her level of intelligence and will determine how people will take him or her in that community. Gardener’s intelligence that differs from different cultures includes logical-mathematical intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, naturalistic intelligence, etc. This is the reason why different individuals take on different responsibilities in the community. A person will be able to work the best in one field but given another field, the same individual is likely to perform poorly. Cases of musical intelligence do exist where only those individuals who are talented in the field can produce music that is sweet to the ears of the listeners. Trying to produce a song without the talent might end up frustrating one a lot. In the development process, the individuals chose their own lines where they feel comfortable. The specific intelligence in their minds determines the lines that they pick. A small child imitates what he or she sees the individuals around him or her doing but a certain stage reaches the development where the child does things depending on the intelligence in his or her mind. The way that individuals relate to each other also differs. Some people are more social than others. Individuals of different sexes also undergo different stages of development and these stages prepare them for different responsibilities in the future (Blasi, 2003, p.259). The different bits of intelligence can be used to measure what an individual can do and that which he or she cannot do. The intelligence of individuals in the same line of specialization can be used to gauge these individuals. Testing the intelligence of all individuals using tests may not clearly show the intelligence of the different individuals since there are different types of intelligence. In determining the levels of intelligence of different individuals, the different types need to be considered and then the levels of intelligence of individuals in the same line can be tested.
Robert Sternberg- Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
According to Robert Sternberg, intelligence is regarded as a mental activity that helps an individual to adapt to the environment that is relevant to the individual’s life. It also involves selecting and shaping this environment where the individual will be comfortable. Three types of intelligence exist according to Sternberg. These include analytical intelligence that allows individuals to be able to solve problems in their real-life; creative intelligence that allows an individual to come up with solutions to new incidents using the experiences that he or she have had in the past; and practical intelligence that allows an individual to be able to adapt to changes that take place in the environment. Each individual has his or her own identity that makes him or her different from the other individuals. The cultures that exist in a certain community determine the identity of the individuals in the community. The best environment for the individuals in a certain community to develop is the very community where their cultures exist. The individuals will adapt to the cultures in the environment and removing them from this environment will make their lives quite hard. They strongly believe in the cultures of these communities and they strongly stand by them (Frosh, 2003, p.39). The analytical intelligence that they have allows them to solve problems in the particular community and individuals from other communities may find it quite difficult to address problems in this community. The way that individual views other people in a different community are a result of the environment that the individual is brought up (New, 2001, p.250). Creative intelligence allows an individual to be able to adapt to new cultures if taken in a different environment.
Conclusion
The understanding of intelligence differs to different psychologists where each has a different view about it. Howard Gardener believes that there are multiple intelligences and these bits of intelligence can be used to test the levels of intelligence of different individuals. Some of his forms of intelligence can be viewed as talents that belong to specific individuals and it is very difficult to learn these talents. According to Robert Sternberg, intelligence is developed as an individual creates the best environment for his or her life. The environment in which the individual is brought up determines the intelligence of the individual.
Reference List
Blasi, C. H., & Bjorklund, D. F. (2003). Evolutionary developmental psychology: A new tool for better understanding human ontogeny. Human Development, 46(5), 259.
Frosh, S., Phoenix, A., & Pattman, R. (2003). Taking a stand: Using psychoanalysis to explore the positioning of subjects in discourse. The British Journal of Social Psychology, 42(1), 39.
New, R. S. (2001). When we talk about how parents talk about children’s talk, what are we talking about? Some thoughts on the study of culture and human development. Human Development, 44(5), 250.